URGENT ISSUE IN AFGHANISTAN-Advocacy Needed

APRIL 2009- ACTION REQUESTED


As many of you will already be aware, President Karzai of Afghanistan has signed a new law that is detrimental to the women of Afghanistan and in particular Shiite Muslim Women. The law has not been enforced yet but has been debated in the Afghan Parliament and signed by 249 members including 68 women.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay made a statement condemning the new law on 2 April, saying: “This is another clear indication that the human rights situation in Afghanistan is getting worse not better. Respect for women’s rights – and human rights in general – is of paramount importance to Afghanistan’s future security and development. This law is a huge step in the wrong direction.”

Soroptimists are appalled at this intended legislation to be introduced in Afghanistan and urge President Karzai to rescind this new legislation with immediate effect. The Rights of Women are to be protected under all circumstances and this law takes away those rights and makes them prisoners and slaves to their husbands and victims of gross violations. UNHCHR details the new restrictions on Shiite women which include denying them the right to leave their homes except for ‘legitimate’ purposes; working or receiving education without their husbands’ express permission, as well as explicitly permitting marital rape.

I encourage every Soroptimist to write to their individual governments requesting that they condemn this new law that is to be introduced into Afghanistan and ask President Karzai to respect the rights of all women in Afghanistan.



Margaret Lobo
President
Soroptimist International


3/2/09“Afghan women Slowly Gaining Protection” - NYtimeshttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/world/asia/03shelter.html?scp=2&sq=afghanistan%20women 4/1/09“Pressure on Hamid Karzai to scrap Afghan women’s law” – The Guardianhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/01/afghanistan-womens-rights-hamid-karzai/print 4/2/09“UN Human Rights Chief Says Afghan Law Restricting Women’s Rights is Reminicent of Taliban Era”http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Media.aspx 4/2/09“Afghanistan: Critics Speak out on ‘Rape Law’” - NYtimeshttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/world/asia/03briefs-afghanlaw.html?fta=y 4/3/09“Women Erased in Israel, Flogged in Pakistan, and Restricted in Afghanistan” - NYtimeshttp://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/setbacks-for-women-in-israel-pakistan-and-afghanistan/?scp=1&sq=afghanistan%20women 4/4/09“Karzai Vows to Review Family Law” --NYtimeshttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/world/asia/05afghan.html 4/5/09“NATO Leaders Blast Afghan ‘Rape’ Law”http://www.thestar.com/article/613989 - 4/5/09“Karzai Vows to International Calls to Scrap “Afghan Law”http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/05/afghanistan-shia-rape-law-scrap - The Guardian 4/6/09“New Afghan Law on Women on Hold” - NYtimeshttp://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/new-afghan-law-on-women-on-hold/?scp=3&sq=afghanistan%20women 4/7/09“Afghanistan ‘Rape’ Law Puts Women’s Rights Front and Center” http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/04/06/afghanistan.law/index.html - CNN 4/13/09“What you Should Know About Women’s Rights in Afghanistan” – Huffington Posthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/anand-gopal/what-you-should-know-abou_b_186225.html 4/16/09 “Afghan Women Protest New Law on Home Life”-New York Timeshttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/world/asia/16afghan.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss


( Editor's Note- Please note that members in SIA and SIE have recieved letters from their Federations also promoting this cause. SI has other advocacy work "in process" with other Women's Groups- keep waching!)